Make Way, arrowed, is snookered behind a wall of horses last week.
Ants: Make Way ‘pushed them over the line’ last week but now he’s drawn the car park
By Barry Lichter • 22 October 2020
Make Way was dead unlucky at Melton last week, never getting a crack at his rivals, but his extreme outside draw on Friday night threatens to again take him out of play.
Top horseman Anthony Butt, partner of trainer Sonya Smith, had been expecting the horse to be half a run short last week, resuming from a four-month break and a recent cold.
Butt never got to find out just how fit the horse was, however, when after first trailing, then racing three deep on the markers, Make Way became pocketed and was blocked for a run all the way down the home straight.
“It was a shame as he got a good run but didn’t get out at any stage,” says Butt.
“He pushed them over the line. He felt really good and was only jogging at the finish.
“But it could have been a blessing as he didn’t have a hard run first-up.”
Make Way ended up ninth, behind a wall of horses, 8.6 metres from winner Out Of Play, who clocked a mile rate of 1:53.4.
Brad Chisholm … drives Make Way.He backs up on Friday night in the opening sprint over 1720 metres, eligible for the race with claiming junior Brad Chisholm in the cart.
Butt’s junior Ryan Sanderson would have been the pilot but he was hurt in a bad smash at Charlton on Monday, airlifted to hospital with internal bleeding.
“Thankfully Ryan’s all right but it’s a shame for him that he can’t be on the horse as he won on him in his only previous drive.
“But I’m sure Brad will do a good job. He has a lot of experience and has driven a few winners for us before.”
Butt will drive stablemate Wolf Stride, the hot favourite courtesy of his excellent two draw, but says there’s not much between the two horses.
“They’re on a par but Wolf Stride will be very hard to beat from two. He won a Group I in the autumn and he’s the best up-and-coming horse in the stable. He won seven in a row earlier in the year.”
Butt says Make Way’s task will be tough from seven against a couple of handy horses but in a field no harder than the previous week.
“Possibly he could blast out but I’ll have a talk to Brad and we’ll do some study on the form. We’ll have to see how much speed there is inside him.
“But Brad won’t really know what to do ’til the gate leaves. The horse has good gate speed without being blistering.
“He’ll have to decide if he can mooch forward. It’s hard when you go back because you then have to rely on tempo. And he’s going super so we don’t want to see him get too far back.”
Butt reports Make Way’s work has been great since last week’s run.
“If he can get some money from out wide that would be good.
“The draw has killed our hopes a bit but you never know …”
Make Way races at 7.33pm NZ time at Melton on Friday night.
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34 more meetings in the north next season as Auckland reclaims Friday nights
No way to sugar coat it - it’s tricky to predict what Sugar Ray will do on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Major Achievement
5.19pm
“It’s his first race for a while and he hasn’t been setting the world on fire at the workouts. But he’s been racing better animals and this isn’t a stellar bunch. He’s a chance if things go his way. I’ve given Mathew Salaivao the drive.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.19pm
“He’s an average horse but the last time he raced here in amateur company he all but won. He’ll need luck from the second row but, while I couldn’t label him, he’s a runner’s chance.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
6.59pm
“She got a bit sick for a while with a virus and I had to back off her. She seems over that now but I’m picking she’ll need a race. This will be like a glorified trial for her.”
Race 8: My Copy
8.14pm
“He came to the end of it so I gave him a little freshen-up and he seems in good shape again. It will be interesting to see how he goes fresh - he may need a race but he’ll appreciate the step-down in class. I’m running him here so he doesn’t come up against any bear cats first-up.”
Race 9: Lincoln Cove
8.47pm
“Hopefully he’s getting better but you’ve just got to take him on trust. He has ability but the desire has been sadly lacking. Zac will have to sit quietly on him as he broke when given only one tap with the stick last time. The small field will suit him as he won’t be too far off them. If he doesn’t make any mistakes, he’ll give them a fright.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.43pm
“Maurice said he would have finished a lot closer last time than sixth (fourth or even third) had he not locked wheels at the 100. That took all his momentum away. He’s been holding his form well and he gets out well enough to use the inside draw. He’s a chance to get some of the money.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.39pm
“He did have marks on his boot after his last run and trying a spreader on him has helped. But he’s a real baby. He has real ability but he’s still developing mentally and physically and we’re still finding our way with him.”
Race 5: Lincoln Lou
7.39pm
“He’s racing well but he’ll find it tough from the outside draw.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.07pm
“I can’t see her improving enough to give the Purdon/Phelan trio a fright. She can go (fast) enough but still has a lot to learn. The main thing for her is getting round safely. She’s put two in a row now so hopefully she’ll start improving.”
Race 10: Lincoln La Moose
9.59pm
“He had an excuse last time - he got wiped out on the first corner and that was the end of his race. I like him, he’s a nice horse, just not quite as experienced as Frisco Bay.”
Race 10: Frisco Bay
9.59pm
“I lean towards Frisky as the better chance of our two. You can’t fault what he did the other night at Cambridge, and he seems to be on the improve. He’s more reliable than Lincoln La Moose.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 6: Captain Nemo
9.40pm NZ time
“I rate him a good top three chance. I’m really happy with the horse. It’s a decent drop in grade for him and I think maybe we roll the dice, go forward, and take our chances. As long as he doesn’t have to burn stupidly off the gate, if he can find the top, they’ll know he’s in the race.”
